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Administration Officials, Constitutional Experts to Testify On Unlawful Cost Sharing Reduction Payments Before Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce Committees

July 6, 2016 — Press Releases   

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After an 18-month-long investigation, the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee and the Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold hearings this week on the Obama Administration’s unlawful funding of the cost sharing reduction (CSR) program, which was established under the Affordable Care Act.

Despite the Administration’s refusal to cooperate, the joint investigation — spearheaded by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) — has revealed that key Administration officials knowingly and willfully circumvented appropriations law and the Constitution to send billions of taxpayer dollars to insurance companies under the CSR program.

After sending numerous letters, issuing 10 subpoenas, and conducting 12 transcribed interviews and one deposition, Members will have the opportunity on Thursday and Friday to publicly discuss the investigation with Administration officials and other experts and ask the questions the Administration has yet to answer. Members will also discuss the ramifications of the Administration’s decision to illegally funnel unappropriated funds to support the CSR program.

On Thursday at 10:00 AM, the House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL), will hear from the following witnesses at a hearing entitled “Defying the Constitution: The Administration’s Unlawful Funding of the Cost Sharing Reduction Program”:

  • Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen
  • Department of Health and Human Services Acting Deputy Secretary Mary Wakefield
  • Department of the Treasury Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy Mark Mazur
  • Office of Management and Budget Senior Advisor for Budget Michael Deich

On Friday at 9:15 AM, the Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), will hear from the following witnesses at a hearing entitled “The ACA’s Cost Sharing Reduction Program: Ramifications of the Administration’s Decision on the Source of Funding for the CSR Program”:

  • Galen Institute Senior Fellow Doug Badger
  • American Enterprise Institute Resident Fellow Tom Miller
  • The Constitution Project Fellow Morton Rosenberg
  • The Constitutional Accountability Center Senior Counsel Simon Lazarus

Energy and Commerce invited Health and Human Services Secretary Burwell to testify herself, or provide a designee. HHS has refused to provide a witness for the hearing.

CLICK HERE for more information about Thursday’s House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee hearing.

CLICK HERE for more information about Friday’s House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing.

SUBCOMMITTEE: Oversight